UQ features in Australia Day honours

8 February 2011

University of Queensland staff, students and alumni have been honoured in the Australia Day awards, featured as Australia Day Ambassadors or became new Australian citizens at ceremonies across the State.

Australia Day Honours recipients as currently identified include:

Order of Australia Companion (AC) in the General Division

The Governor, Her Excellency Dr Penelope Wensley AO for eminent contribution to the people of Queensland, and to Australia’s international relations through senior diplomatic representational roles, and as a key contributor to initiatives of the United Nations. Dr Wensley (Bachelor of Arts (Hons) 1968, Doctor of Philosophy (Honoris causa 1994) was named UQ’s first woman alumnus of the year in 1994. She served as Australia's Ambassador to the United Nations for seven years, in both Geneva and New York, as Ambassador for the Environment, High Commissioner to India and Ambassador to France.

Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)

Dr Robyn Alders, for distinguished service to veterinary science as a researcher and educator, to the maintenance of food security in developing countries through livestock management and disease control programs, and to the Australian poultry industry. Dr Alders was a member of Professor Peter Spradbrow’s staff when she commenced the work that contributed to her award. She was employed on ACIAR research grants at the John Francis Virology Laboratory at Pinjarra Hills and she was later stationed in Mozambique. Her particular interest was the use of thermotolerant Newcastle disease vaccine in village chicken flocks in developing countries.

Member (AM) in the General Division

Adjunct Professor in the School of English, Media Studies and Art History since 1999 Bille Brown (Doctor of Letters, Honoris causa, 2001; Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Education, 1973), for service to the performing arts as an actor and playwright, and to education.

Mr Kerry Herron, Member, Advisory Council, Gatton College (now UQ Gatton), 1991-1995, for service to business in the field of property valuation, and to the community.

Sister Mary Lawson (Gradudate Diploma of Audiology, 1990), for service to education and to the Catholic Church of Australia, particularly through roles supporting children with a hearing impairment and their families.

Dr Mark Loane (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 1977) for service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology, particularly to the Indigenous communities of northern Queensland, as contributor to the development of sustainable health services.

Ms Zoe Rathus (Bachelor of Laws, 1982; Bachelor of Arts 1979) for service to the law, particularly through contributions to the rights of women, children and the Indigenous community, to education and to professional organisations.

Adjunct Professor, School of Architecture Michael Rayner, for service to architecture, particularly through leadership roles in the planning and design of the built environment, and to the community of Queensland.

Dr Charles Roe (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 1942), for service to medicine, particularly through contributions to the Australian Medical Association Queensland, and to the community.

Former Dean of Engineering and former Head of the School of Engineering Emertitus Professor John Simmons, for service to engineering and education, particularly through innovative approaches to curriculum reform and the development of the international student market. Professor Simmons, of the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering and the EAIT Faculty is currently the Vice President of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Medal (OAM) in the General Division

Dr Paul Bauert (Bachelor of Science, 1972; MBBS, 1977), for service to medicine in the field of paediatrics, to Indigenous health, and through professional organisations.

Ms Sonja Bernhardt (Bachelor of Arts, 1987), for service to information technology.

Mr Desmond Diggles RFD (Bachelor of Arts (Hons), 1991) for service to surveying and mapping.

Mr Matthew O'Riley (Bachelor of Arts, 1976), for service to education through the provision of teaching programs to Indigenous communities.

Library Industry Fellow Aladin Rahemtula, for service to librarianship through the Supreme Court of Queensland, and to the community through the preservation of legal heritage.

Library Industry Fellow Dr Spencer Routh, (Bachelor of Arts (Hons),1958; Doctor of Letters Honoris causa, 2005), for service to the library and information sciences sector, particularly through The University of Queensland.

Mr Ronald Store (Bachelor of Arts, 1962; Bachelor of Education 1967; Graduate Diploma of Education 1963), for service to library and information services, and to education.

Dr Francis Sullivan (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, 1954); for service to medicine in the field of ophthalmology.

Associate Professor Marianne Vonau of the School of Medicine, for service to medicine in the field of neurosurgery as a clinician, educator and mentor.

Joan Florence Urquhart (Bachelor of Science, 1948), for service to the community of Beaudesert.

Mr Maxwell Walters (Bachelor of Commerce, 1973; Bachelor of Science, 1948), for service to cricket, and to the community of Queensland.

Public Service Medal (PSM)

Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation scientist Dr Patrick Blackall Bachelor of Science, 1974; Doctor of Philosophy in microbiology, 1988), for outstanding public service to Queensland’s primary industries and science through innovative research into the bacterial diseases of poultry, pigs and cattle.

Mr Peter Drew (Bachelor of Laws, 1973), for outstanding public service as Queensland Parliamentary Counsel.

Professor David Johnson of the School of Medicine, for outstanding public service to Queensland Health, particularly to research into the early detection and management of chronic kidney disease.

Mr Barry Nutter (Bachelor of Commerce, 1967; Certificate in Provisional Accountancy, 1960), for outstanding public service to education and training in Queensland, particularly as Chair of the Training and Employment Recognition Council.

Australian Police Medal (APM)

Superintendent Garth Pitman (Bachelor of Arts, 1990) for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.

Please advise any further recipients who may have been accidentally omitted to j.king@uq.edu.au

Australia Day Ambassadors

A number of current or former University of Queensland staff were among 38 Queenslanders appointed Australia Day Ambassadors. They gave Australia Day speeches, handed out citizenship certificates to new citizens and a variety of awards for community service.

UQ Australia Day Ambassadors included:

• Senior lecturer in the School of English, Media Studies and Art History Dr Sally Butler, Paroo Shire Council (Cunnamulla);

• Senior lecturer in the School of English, Media Studies and Art History Dr Toni Johnson-Woods (Muttaburra / Aramac);

Dr Noel Hayman, the director and founder of the Indigenous Health Service centre in the southwest Brisbane suburb of Inala was Queensland’s Australian of the Year nominee, with the award being made to Mutiple Sclerosis advocate Simon McKeon.

New cititzens

New Australian citizens include the Head of the University’s Burns Laboratory Research Dr James McMillan, and Dr Ryan Taft, a Postdoctoral Fellow in Professor John Mattick’s laboratory at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, and a finalist in last year's Eureka Prizes (in both the People's Choice and Early Career Researcher categories).